If you've got a Mercedes 280SE for sale, we'll pay you top dollar!

Mercedes 280SE

Overall Summary

The Mercedes 280SE was a development of the original W108 range, which débuted at the Frankfurt auto show in 1965. The Mercedes 280S and SE replaced that of the Mercedes 250S, 250SE and 300SE with a new chassis and design and considerable advancements under the bonnet too. The 280SE went in to production in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1967, just two years after its predecessors and was part of the companies ‘stroke eight’ range; named after the model year. Part of the family range, the 280SE was Mercedes’ first V8 powered sports car, and lasted over five years on the Mercedes production line; no mean feat in a fast-paced 70’s motor industry.

Although the Mercedes 280SE was designed as a family car, it was never designed to slouch. The newly developed downdraft carburetors were an enhancing performance feature producing 170 bhp at around 5200 rpm. The manual gearbox range could reach an impressive 130mph and sprint from 0-60 in just 10.5 seconds; not bad for a “family car” I’m sure you’d agree. What’s even more impressive was the quality build, which remained stable even at top speeds. The company were quoted as saying “at 100 mph, the loudest sound you hear is the air conditioner”; which was a nice selling point indeed. The car carried over the tried and tested independent suspension from previous models and had vented front brake pads and included rear brake pads too; something less common during the era. This meant that it handled well around corners and had an impressive stopping speed compared to other cars of its time.

Mercedes’ pricing of around $13,500 during the 1960’s and 1970’s positioned it at the higher end of the market. Today, it remains a valuable member of the classic Mercedes range and those with a Mercedes 280SE for sale can expect a decent return for their iconic “family” model.